Flannans' aerial prowess proves too much in sweeping win over North Mon
Seán Óg Ó hAilpin, Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG with Jamesie O'Connor, St Flannans, Ennis after their TUS Dr Harty Cup (U19 A Hurling) semi-final at Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Pic: Dan Linehan
The survivors from last year’s St Flannan’s side are adamant they didn’t do themselves justice when falling so comprehensively to Thurles CBS at the quarter-final stage.
There’s not been a fixture this campaign where that criticism could be levelled at them, either by themselves or others. Flannan’s are back in the final, Thurles once more in the opposite corner.
Of all their performances in the campaign to date, yesterday’s first half was by far the most complete. It never gave doubt an inch. It never gave room to error. It never allowed sentiment take a breath. It was ceaseless and ruthless and awesome.
Yesterday’s semi-final was cooked from as early as the 12th minute. An angled James Hegarty free was caught superbly by Conor Ralph. The trigger pull for his team’s second major was equally impressive. 2-4 to 0-1. Flannan’s already headed to a first final since 2020.
Ralph’s aerial prowess captured so much of the gulf between the sides. Even though Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG put Dónal Ó Scannláin sweeping in front of the full-back line, it made not a jot of difference. Flannan’s deliveries came from the sky. They played smartly to the size and stature of Ralph and Harry Doherty.
It didn’t matter that they were outnumbered. The difference in physicality was every bit as pronounced as the 16-point difference at the finish.
Darragh Ball had delivered their opening goal inside two minutes, the assist was the opening work of Conor Ralph’s catching exhibition.
Goal number three was another fine piece of fielding. Harry Doherty, who struck five first half wides, made amends with his 19th minute finish. 3-7 to 0-1. Total domination, total annihilation.
Midfielder Dara Kennedy’s 29th minute white flag completed the scoring contribution of the Flannan's front eight. Shortly before, half-forward Ronan Kilroy had launched over his third out on the sideline. 3-11 to 1-3 the interval scoreline.
“We felt with Harry [Doherty] and Conor [Ralph] inside that if we could try and get it in over the sweeper, and certainly we got a lot of joy from the direct ball in,” said Flannan’s boss Jamesie O’Connor.
“They are two big strong guys. They are able to win it in the air. And if they are not winning it, they are good in the tackle and are holding it up in there. We got the perfect start with Darragh Ball's goal. That settled everything down. Really happy with the first-half performance.”
Doherty top-scored with 1-9. He kept their account ticking over when the collective intensity considerably withdrew in the second period. He is one of six survivors from the 2-21 to 1-17 quarter-final defeat of 12 months ago. They are all survivors from the opening round stalemate with Thurles from three months ago.
“Last year, we had a talented team, but deservedly and comprehensively beaten by Thurles. The lads that were there last year, probably a sense we didn't get it done and we didn't do ourselves justice, so it is very much player driven this year by the senior lads such as Joseph Casey, James Hegarty, Ronan Kilroy. They've shown great leadership to drive it,” Jamesie continued.
“Ronan, James, and Harry have All-Ireland minor medals. Harty is a medal that is really valued and is certainly a medal those guys are hoping to add. The aim at the start of the year was to get to a final. We've done that. The challenge now is Thurles.”
Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG were the last of the two teams to depart the field. Waiting for them at the gate were teachers, parents, and friends. An attention-grabbing run had not been forgotten in the size of defeat.
Yesterday was a reminder that while lost ground has been retrieved, there’s ground still to be covered to return to the glory days of old. Outclassed and, equally, off colour. Craig Ó Súilleabháin, so central to reaching a first semi-final in 29 years, struggled from the placed ball.
The third quarter was the one period they enjoyed a strong arm in the fixture. They squandered it with six wides in the 19 minutes after half-time. Their wides tally finished up at 13.
Goal scorers Callum Ó Cofaigh and Ó Súilleabháin, along with Josh Ó Brosnacháin, who won the second-half penalty Ó Súilleabháin converted, and Lucas Ó Muirthile, were all part of the Dean Ryan team that reached the Munster U17 final pre-Christmas.
The point is that this attention-grabbing run need not be a one-off.
H Doherty (1-9, 0-7 frees); C Ralph, D Ball (1-0 each); R Kilroy (0-3); M Cleary (0-2); R Loftus, D Costelloe, D Kennedy, G Ball, P Finneran, D McNamara (0-1 each).
C Ó Suilleabháin (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65); C Ó Cofaigh (1-0); J Ó hÉigeartaigh (0-1 free), C Ó Briain (0-1 each).
M O Coileáin (St Joseph's Doora Barefield); J Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), J Casey (Kilmaley), C Cummins (Ruan); R Loftus (Éire Óg), C Daly (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), J Cullinan (Ruan); D Costelloe (Ballyea), D Kennedy (Ballyea); R Kilroy (Banner), M Cleary (Éire Óg), D Ball (St Joseph's Doora Barefield); G Ball (St Joseph's Doora Barefield), H Doherty (Clarecastle), C Ralph (Clarecastle).
D McNamara (Clooney-Quin) for D Ball (46); P Finneran (Clooney-Quin) for G Ball (48); N Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Kennedy (50); J Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Costelloe (54); P O’Connell (Clarecastle) for Cleary (56).
J Ó Gabhláin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna); M Gayfer (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), C Ó Maonaigh (Na Piarsaigh), E Ó Murchú (Baile na mBocht); S Ó Dalaigh (Naomh Uinseann), J Ó Brosnacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna), C Ó Gealbháin (Na Piarsaigh); E Ó Cróinín (Na Piarsaigh), J Ó hÉigeartaigh (Teampall Geal); C Ó Briain (Teampall Geal), C Ó Súilleabháin (Na Piarsaigh), L Ó Muirthile (Na Piarsaigh); C Ó Cofaigh (Na Piarsaigh), D Ó Connaill (Teampall Geal), D Ó Scannláin (Na Piarsaigh).
C Ó Riain (Carraig na bhFear) for Ó Connaill (43); S Mac Seoin (Naomh Uinseann) for Ó Murchú (45); E Mac Eochán (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for Ó Cróinín, G Ó Ceallacháin (Fánaithe an Ghleanna) for Ó hÉigeartaigh, G Ó Duibhir Ó hArrachtán (Na Piarsaigh) for Gayfer (all 56).
J O’Halloran (Limerick).
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